In a Florida weather miracle, the seemingly endless season of rain ended just in time for the anticipated return of the Saturday Morning Market.
After its routine summer hiatus, the market reopened on Oct. 3 and was greeted with consistent sunshine, a refreshing breeze, and the familiar sense of community that downtown St. Petersburg knows and loves.
The Al Lang Field parking lot, showcasing beverages and market souvenirs was bustling with families, millennials, retirees and friendly dogs. A woman hauled bundles of kale and Swiss chard. A child sipped juice from a pineapple. An Italian greyhound sported a vibrant bandana.
In addition to beans, fruits and vegetables, the Little Pond Farm grows various types of flowers using organic standards on their farm in Bushnell.
The market was packed. Even the signature sunflower bouquets from the organic Worden Farm were gone by noon.
St. Petersburg Mayor Rick Kriseman was joined by volunteers at a voter registration booth, greeting passersby and encouraging people to register before the Oct. 5 deadline. The mayor said he loves the Saturday Morning Market, not just “because it’s cool,” but because it serves as an “incubator” for new and growing local businesses.
The market, which began in November 2002, seems to garner a more remarkable variety of vendors each year.
Mike Ewashenko of Ewa’s Peace Fish showcased an array of hand-crafted metal artwork. Ewashenko, nicknamed “Ewa” in his childhood, uses an acetylene torch and polyurethane to transform recycled satellite dishes, filing cabinets and other metal products into fish, dragonflies, turtles, peace signs and more.
“And I have the burns to prove it,” said Ewashenko with a smile.
The Worden Farm sells fresh, USDA certified organic produce and herbs, including baskets of five to six large cucumbers.
Other distinct vendors include Natural Mystic Inc., a handmade soap company; Brimstone Originals, a food manufacturer specializing in gourmet pepper jellies; and Living Art Studios, where natural stones are carefully chosen and sold or used in the making of silver wire jewelry.
Food continued to be the center of interest, as dozens of traditional and international ready-to-eat
options lined the street, along with packaged specialty goods to save for later.
But one type of food in particular has become the highlight of the market: fresh or organic plants and produce.
Saturday’s main event consisted of local farmers, who sustain and grow on their own land within St. Petersburg or a short distance away.
Farmer Sean O’Toole holds a batch of freshly picked ice cream bananas from the tropical, edible plant nursery, The Wild Guava, that he and his wife run in Plant City.
The Wild Guava, an exotic tropical plant nursery in Plant City, made its debut at the market. Jessica O’Toole, surrounded by her inventory of plants, said she is excited to be a part of the market’s local farming culture.
“We use natural growing practices,” O’Toole said. “I’ll tell you exactly what I sprayed, how much and when. We feel that transparency is important in this market, since farmers are dealing with their consumers directly.”
Little Pond Farm seeks to emphasize the beauty and color of their produce, displaying Hawaiian baby ginger and colorful batches of heirloom dry beans.
Little Pond Farm, owned and operated by Tampa native Cole Turner, marked its second season at the market, and third year of growing. After graduating, he moved to Georgia to learn the process behind organic farming, later returning to Florida to start his own farming business.
The three large farms that have consistently been represented at the market had people browsing every inch of every table, scooping up fruits and vegetables by the handful. Workers could be seen restocking the aisles with produce by 11 a.m. when the market had been going on for just two hours, and again at noon. And again one hour later.
The acclaimed market is the ultimate Saturday destination in St. Petersburg, offering something for all walks of life – food, entertainment, art and leisure.
A five-minute walk from USF St. Petersburg, on-campus students can take advantage of the opportunity to break from cheap dorm-room cooking.
The Saturday Morning Market takes place every Saturday from early October through late May, from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. in the Al Lang Field parking lot at the corner of First Street S and First Avenue.
